Patsy also wrote and sang the Irish Football Team anthem for their European Championship campaign in Germany and again for the World Cup in 1990 in Italy "We are the Boys in Green" (Home & Away Album) with The Dublin City Ramblers. The lyrics changed slightly in both releases in 1988 and 1990.

Patsy plays the banjo, bodhrán and spoons, he cites Luke Kelly, former lead singer with The Dubliners as his favourite singer. Patsy sang with the Dubliners and was well received throughout Ireland, the UK, Europe, Australia and the USA.[2]

When The Dubliners announced their retirement in 2012 after finishing their 50 Years Anniversary Tour, Patsy Watchorn decided to keep on touring with former band members Seán Cannon and Eamonn Campbell and Banjo player Gerry O'Connor under the name of "The Dublin Legends".

On 28 April 2014 Patsy Watchorn posted a message on his website, stating that he "decided to take a break from the music business for a while" and won't be touring the rest of 2014 with "The Dublin Legends", he later admitted this was due to ill health and that doctors advised touring would do further damage to his health. [3]

Watchorn's distinctive and passionate vocals have made him a huge rock on the Irish folk scene; in his solo projects in the mid and late 1990s after departing from his band The Dublin City Ramblers, he had session men who used to play alongside him and he used the stage name "Patsy Watchorn, agus a Cháirde" (which means "and his Friends" in Irish).

1.
The Dubliners
–
The Dubliners were an Irish folk band founded in Dublin in 1962. The band started off as The Ronnie Drew Ballad Group, named in honour of its founding member, the group line-up saw many changes over their fifty-year career. However, the success was centred on lead singers Luke Kelly and Ronnie Drew. The band garnered success with their lively Irish folk songs, traditional street ballads. The band were regulars on the scenes in both Dublin and London in the early 1960s, until they were signed to the Major Minor label in 1965 after backing from Dominic Behan. They went on to receive airplay on Radio Caroline, and eventually appeared on Top of the Pops in 1967 with hits Seven Drunken Nights. During this time the bands popularity began to spread across mainland Europe, the groups success remained steady right through the 1970s and a number of collaborations with The Pogues in 1987 saw them enter the UK Singles Chart on another two occasions. The Dubliners were instrumental in popularising Irish folk music in Europe, though they did not quite surpass the popularity of The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem in the United States. They influenced many generations of Irish bands, and their legacy can to this day be heard in the music of such as The Pogues, Dropkick Murphys. Much adored in their country, covers of Irish ballads by Ronnie Drew. One of the most influential Irish acts of the 20th century, they celebrated 50 years together in 2012, also in 2012, the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards bestowed them with a Lifetime Achievement Award. The Dubliners announced their retirement in the autumn of 2012, after 50 years of playing, following the death of the last of the founding members, Barney McKenna. However, the members of the group, with the exception of John Sheahan. As of 2016, there are two of the members still in this group, Seán Cannon and Eamonn Campbell. The Dubliners, initially known as The Ronnie Drew Ballad Group, formed in 1962, the change of name came about because of Ronnie Drews unhappiness with it, together with the fact that Luke Kelly was reading Dubliners by James Joyce at the time. Founding members were Drew, Kelly, Ciarán Bourke and Barney McKenna, Drew, McKenna and Thomas Whelan had originally teamed up for a fundraising concert and then went on to work in a revue with the Irish comedian John Molloy at the Gaiety Theatre in Dublin. They used to sing songs between acts, before joining the Dubliners full-time, Kelly had spent some time playing at English folk clubs such as the Jug oPunch in Birmingham, run by the folk singer Ian Campbell. The group played at the Edinburgh Festival in 1963 and that led to them being featured on a BBC programme called Hootenanny, the extra exposure helped them to win a contract with Transatlantic Records, with whom they recorded their first album, called simply The Dubliners

2.
Crumlin, Dublin
–
Crumlin is a suburb in Dublin, Ireland. It is the site of Irelands largest childrens hospital, neighbouring areas include Walkinstown, Perrystown, Drimnagh, Terenure, and Kimmage. Crumlin is contained within postal district Dublin 12, Crumlin gets its name from the crooked valley known as Lansdowne Valley. The valley was formed by erosion in the distant past and is now bisected by the River Camac. The valley is situated behind Drimnagh and is made up of recreational parkland. During the medieval period, Dublin was surrounded by manorial settlements comprising church, graveyard, manor house, motte and bailey, farms and these settlements grew into a network of villages around Dublin creating stability and continuity of location. Crumlin Village developed as an Anglo-Norman settlement soon after the Norman Conquest in 1170, the Old Saint Marys Church stands on the site of a 12th-century church of the same dedication, and a succession of churches occupied the site down through the centuries to the present day. In 1193, King John gave the Crumlin church to form one prebend in the church of Saint Patrick. When the main body of the present old church was rebuilt in 1817, Crumlin, along with Saggart, Newcastle, Lyons and Esker was constituted a royal manor by King John sometime before the end of his reign in 1216. The English noble families of the time had links with Ireland. For example, William Fitz John of Harptree was a lord of some significance in Somerset, as the church was the nucleus of life on the manor in medieval times, we may with confidence place the centre of Crumlin’s medieval settlement in the area of Crumlin Village. This has been confirmed by recent archaeological excavations in the area of Saint Mary’s, Crumlin is home to Our Ladys Childrens Hospital, Crumlin, the largest childrens hospital in the country. A great many roads are named after some of Ulsters towns, theres a statue of the warrior Cu Chuillain situated opposite St Marys Church at the junction with Bunting road. He is said to have originated from the area and is described as a wooded landscape. Today this valley can be seen behind Drimnagh Castle and was wild until recently turned into a course, albeit one that did not ruin its features. Notable people who have lived in or been associated with the area include and he lived at 70 Kildare Road where the house is marked with a plaque in his honour. Joseph Deane politician of the Irish House of Commons, judge, Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer, christy Brown, the Irish author, painter and poet, was born in Crumlin. Gabriel Byrne, actor, was born in Crumlin Paddy Casey, martin Cahill, a Dublin underworld figure, lived in Crumlin

3.
Irish traditional music
–
The folk music of Ireland is the generic term for music that has been created in various genres in Ireland. In A History of Irish Music, W. H. Grattan Flood wrote that, in Gaelic Ireland, there were at least ten instruments in general use. These were the cruit and clairseach, the timpan, the feadan, the buinne, the guthbuinne, the bennbuabhal and corn, the cuislenna, the stoc and sturgan, there is also evidence of the fiddle being used in the 8th century. There are several collections of Irish folk music from the 18th century, important collectors include Colm Ó Lochlainn, George Petrie, Edward Bunting, Francis ONeill, James Goodman and many others. Irish traditional music has survived more strongly against the forces of cinema, radio and this was possibly because the country was not a geographical battleground in either of the two world wars. Another potential factor was that the economy was agricultural, where oral tradition usually thrives. From the end of the world war until the late fifties folk music was held in low regard. Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann and the popularity of the Fleadh Cheoil helped lead the revival of the music, the English Folk music scene also encouraged and gave self-confidence to many Irish musicians. Following the success of The Clancy Brothers in the USA in 1959, the lush sentimental style of singers such as Delia Murphy was replaced by guitar-driven male groups such as The Dubliners. Irish showbands presented a mixture of pop music and folk dance tunes, the international success of The Chieftains and subsequent musicians and groups has made Irish folk music a global brand. Historically much old-time music of the USA grew out of the music of Ireland, England and Scotland, by the 1970s Irish traditional music was again influencing music in the USA and further afield in Australia and Europe. It has occasionally been fused with rock and roll, punk rock, like all traditional music, Irish folk music has changed slowly. Most folk songs are less than two hundred years old, one measure of its age is the language used. Modern Irish songs are written in English and Irish, most of the oldest songs and tunes are rural in origin and come from the older Irish language tradition. Modern songs and tunes often come from cities and towns, Irish songs went from the Irish language to the English language, unaccompanied vocals are called sean nós and are considered the ultimate expression of traditional singing. Sean-nós singing is highly ornamented and the voice is placed towards the top of the range, a true sean-nós singer will vary the melody of every verse, but not to the point of interfering with the words, which are considered to have as much importance as the melody. To the first-time listener, accustomed to pop and classical singers, sean-nós often sounds more Arabic, non-sean-nós traditional singing, even when accompaniment is used, uses patterns of ornamentation and melodic freedom derived from sean-nós singing, and, generally, a similar voice placement. Caoineadh /kˠi, nʲɪ/ is Irish for a lament, a song which is typified by lyrics which stress sorrow, traditionally, the Caoineadh song contained lyrics in which the singer lamented for Ireland after having been forced to emigrate due to political or financial reasons

4.
Singing
–
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of sustained tonality, rhythm, and a variety of vocal techniques. A person who sings is called a singer or vocalist, Singers perform music that can be sung with or without accompaniment by musical instruments. Singing is often done in an ensemble of musicians, such as a choir of singers or a band of instrumentalists, Singers may perform as soloists, or accompanied by anything from a single instrument up to a symphony orchestra or big band. Singing can be formal or informal, arranged or improvised and it may be done as a form of religious devotion, as a hobby, as a source of pleasure, comfort, or ritual, as part of music education, or as a profession. Excellence in singing requires time, dedication, instruction, and regular practice, if practice is done on a regular basis then the sounds can become more clear and strong. Professional singers usually build their careers around one specific genre, such as classical or rock. They typically take voice training provided by teachers or vocal coaches throughout their careers. Though these four mechanisms function independently, they are coordinated in the establishment of a vocal technique and are made to interact upon one another. During passive breathing, air is inhaled with the diaphragm while exhalation occurs without any effort, exhalation may be aided by the abdominal, internal intercostal and lower pelvis/pelvic muscles. Inhalation is aided by use of external intercostals, scalenes and sternocleidomastoid muscles, the pitch is altered with the vocal cords. With the lips closed, this is called humming, humans have vocal folds which can loosen, tighten, or change their thickness, and over which breath can be transferred at varying pressures. The shape of the chest and neck, the position of the tongue, any one of these actions results in a change in pitch, volume, timbre, or tone of the sound produced. Sound also resonates within different parts of the body and an individuals size, Singers can also learn to project sound in certain ways so that it resonates better within their vocal tract. This is known as vocal resonation, another major influence on vocal sound and production is the function of the larynx which people can manipulate in different ways to produce different sounds. These different kinds of function are described as different kinds of vocal registers. The primary method for singers to accomplish this is through the use of the Singers Formant and it has also been shown that a more powerful voice may be achieved with a fatter and fluid-like vocal fold mucosa. The more pliable the mucosa, the more efficient the transfer of energy from the airflow to the vocal folds, Vocal registration refers to the system of vocal registers within the voice. A register in the voice is a series of tones, produced in the same vibratory pattern of the vocal folds

5.
Banjo
–
The banjo is a four-, five- or six-stringed instrument with a thin membrane stretched over a frame or cavity as a resonator, called the head. The membrane, or head, is made of plastic, although animal skin is still occasionally but rarely used. Early forms of the instrument were fashioned by Africans in America, the banjo is frequently associated with country, folk, Irish traditional and bluegrass music. Historically, the banjo occupied a place in African American traditional music. The banjo, with the fiddle, is a mainstay of American old-time music and it is also very frequently used in Traditional Jazz. The modern banjo derives from instruments that had used in the Caribbean since the 17th century by enslaved people taken from West Africa. Written references to the banjo in North America appear in the 18th century, the etymology of the name banjo is uncertain. The word could have come from the Yoruba word Bami jo and it may derive from the Kimbundu word mbanza. A Banza, a five double string courses Portuguese viuhela with two short strings, mbanza is a string African instrument that has been built after the Portuguese Banza. Banza is quite similar to Banjo, various instruments in Africa, chief among them the kora, feature a skin head and gourd body. Banjos with fingerboards and tuning pegs are known from the Caribbean as early as the 17th century, 18th- and early 19th-century writers transcribed the name of these instruments variously as bangie, banza, bonjaw, banjer and banjar. Instruments similar to the banjo have been played in many countries, another likely relative of the banjo is the akonting, a spike folk lute played by the Jola tribe of Senegambia, and the ubaw-akwala of the Igbo. Early, African-influenced banjos were built around a body and a wooden stick neck. These instruments had varying numbers of strings, though often including some form of drone, the five-string banjo was popularized by Joel Walker Sweeney, an American minstrel performer from Appomattox Court House, Virginia. In the 1830s Sweeney became the first white performer to play the banjo on stage and his version of the instrument replaced the gourd with a drum-like sound box and included four full-length strings alongside a short fifth string. This new banjo was at first tuned dGdf♯a, though by the 1890s this had been transposed up to gcgbd, Banjos were introduced in Britain by Sweeneys group, the American Virginia Minstrels, in the 1840s, and became very popular in music halls. In the Antebellum South, many black slaves played the banjo, two techniques closely associated with the five-string banjo are rolls and drones. Rolls are right hand fingering pattern that consist of eight notes that subdivide each measure

6.
Spoon (musical instrument)
–
Spoons can be played as a makeshift percussion instrument, or more specifically, an idiophone related to the castanets. Playing the spoons originated in England as playing the bones, in which the sides of a pair of cow rib bones were rattled in the same way. It is played by hitting one of the other Fire tongs style, A pair of spoons is held tight with concave sides facing out, when the pair is struck, the spoons sharply hit each other and then spring back to their original position. The spoons are typically struck against the knee and the palm of the hand, the fingers and other body parts may also be used as striking surfaces to produce different sounds, rhythms, and visual effects. Salad serving style, one spoon between little, ring, and long finger, the other spoon between ring, thumb, and index finger in such a way that they can be rotated with ring finger as the common axis. They can be hit to each other at the sides by gathering the fingers. Castanets style, two in hand one held down by the thumb, one between ring and middle finger. In the United States spoons as instrument are associated with American folk music, minstrelsy and these musical genres make use of other everyday objects as instruments, such as the washboard and the jug. In addition to tableware, spoons that are joined at the handle are available from musical instrument suppliers. As percussion, spoons accompany fiddle playing and other folk sets, an example is seen in Midsomer Murders Series 6, episode 2, where Detective Sergeant Gavin Troy plays the spoons at a house party joining a fiddle player who is entertaining the guests. The guests also contribute percussion by hand clapping in time with the music, the song This Old Man refers to a related concept, except with sheep bones instead of spoons. In Canada, the spoons accompany fiddle playing in Québecois and Acadian music, also, Newfoundland and the Atlantic Provinces popularly play the spoons at family gatherings. Playing the spoons is rarely seen in Western Canada, the spoons in Greece, as a percussion instrument are known as koutalakia, which means also, spoon. The dancers hold the wooden koutalakia, to accompany with a variety of knocks their dance rhythms, the most of them, are very beautifully sculpted or painted. Spoons are often used in ethnic Russian music and are known as lozhki, the use of spoons for music dating at least from the 18th century. Typically, three or more wooden spoons are used, the convex surfaces of the bowls are struck together in different ways. For example, two spoons are held by their handles in the hand, and the third, held in the right hand, is used to hit the two spoons in the left hand. The hit, in a motion, produces a typical sound

7.
Dublin City Ramblers
–
The Dublin City Ramblers is an Irish folk band, originately formed by the name of The Quare Fellas in 1970. The band has had a line of members and Sean McGuinness is the only current of the original lineup. The Dublin City Ramblers began life in the mid 60s as the Jolly Tinkers, at this time the line up consisted of Patsy Watchorn, brothers Sean and Matt McGuinness and Pat Cummins. While the group recorded the two albums At Home and A Fond Tale on the CBS label, they considered themselves part-time musicians, Pat Cummins left the band between the first and second CBS album and was replaced by Brendan Leeson. In 1970, the Quare Fellas disbanded and The Dublin City Ramblers were formed, with Patsy Watchorn, Sean McGuinness, Mick Crotty and this line up lasted until approximately 1977. When both Mick Crotty and Kevin Gerahty left the group in 1972, Philip the horse McCaffrey and Kevin Molloy, the four piece of Patsy, Sean, Philip and Kevin went on to have a Top 10 hit album with their 1972 album A Nation Once Again. This was to be the groups most prolific period with what would be known as The Dublin City Ramblers original and best-known line-up and also the bands most successful period. In 1978 the band released their most controversial album called Irish Republican Jail songs, the most controversial was 19 Men, which was about the Provisional IRAs successful attempt to break free from Portlaoise Prison. The Gardaí and soldiers, it seems, were a few seconds behind the escapees, on this same album, fiddle player Philip the horse McCaffrey took his first ever lead vocal with the band. However, It wasnt the song he ever recorded and sang live with the band. The first song he recorded was called Bring them home, about the Price Sisters hunger strike. He also sang The Ballad of Tom Williams and Our Lads in Crumlin Jail on the same album and this album was branded as ludicrous and full of delusion by a then member of Dáil Éireann in the same year,1978. Between 1980 and 1987 The Dublin City Ramblers scored most of their hits, beginning with The Rare Ould Times through Flight Of Earls, John ODreams to The Punch and Judy Man, The Ferryman, and others. In 1981 the band recorded a ballad called The Ballad of Bobby Sands. They also had a success with their rendition of the folk tale Wind in the Willows in 1984. The album also included Phil Coulters Steal Away and originals by The Dublin City Ramblers, Farewell to Carlingford, in 1988 and 1990, The Dublin City Ramblers released both the Irish Football teams European Championships and World Cup sporting anthem We Are the Boys in Green. Patsy sang on both versions and lyrics did change between the Germany 88 campaign and Italia 90 campaign, Patsy, Sean, Phil and Kevin also played at The Irish football teams homecoming party in July 1990. Manager Jack Charlton said These guys are the real champions, ive heard them on the radio, on the team bus and now we have the privilege of having them play here tonight

8.
Republic of Ireland national football team
–
The Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in association football. It is governed by the Football Association of Ireland and plays its home fixtures at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, the team made their debut at the 1924 Summer Olympics, reaching the quarter-finals. Between 1924 and 1936, the team competed as the Irish Free State and from then until 1950, Northern Ireland was allowed to use the title Ireland by FIFA in the Home International Competition until it was discontinued in 1984. The Republic of Ireland was the first nation from outside the United Kingdom to defeat England at home at a fixture played at Goodison Park, Liverpool, the team also reached the quarter-final stage of the 1964 European Nations Cup, where they lost to the eventual winners Spain. Charltons successor Mick McCarthy lost out on the two major tournaments but ultimately qualified for the 2002 World Cup, making it to the last 16. Under Giovanni Trapattoni, the narrowly lost out on qualification for the 2010 World Cup during a controversial play-off. The team failed to qualify for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, the Republic of Ireland also fell to a record low FIFA ranking of 59th, then a record low of 70th in June 2014. The Boys in Green reached the Round of 16 stage at that tournament and were knocked out by the hosts, between 1882 and 1924, Ireland was represented by a single national football team organised by the Belfast-based Irish Football Association. In 1923, the FAIFS was recognised by FIFA as the body of the Irish Free State and at the 1924 Summer Olympics. On 28 May, at the Stade Olympique, they beat Bulgaria 1–0, as a result, they qualified for the quarter-finals. On 14 June 1924, the Irish Free State made their debut against the United States. Ed Brookes scored a hat-trick in a 3–1 home win at Dalymount Park, the Irish Free State did not play their next game until 21 March 1926, an away game against Italy lost 3–0. In subsequent years, the status of the Olympic Games football competition was downgraded and as a result, on 25 February 1934, the Irish Free State made their FIFA World Cup debut, drawing 4–4 with Belgium at Dalymount Park in a 1934 FIFA World Cup qualifier. Paddy Moore scored all four of the Free States goals and became the first player ever to four goals in a World Cup game. After 1936, they reverted to the designation Football Association of Ireland, during this entire period, there were two Irish international football teams, chosen by two rival Associations. FIFA eventually intervened when both teams entered 1950 World Cup qualification, the first time they had entered the same competition, four players – Tom Aherne, Reg Ryan, Davy Walsh, Con Martin – actually played for the two different teams in the same FIFA World Cup tournament. All four players concerned had been born in the Irish Free State and this may have alarmed the FAI, since they subsequently lobbied FIFA to prevent the IFA from picking Southern-born players. e. Initially the FIFA World Cup and subsequently the European Nations Cup, FIFA decreed that the FAI team officially be called the Republic of Ireland while the IFA team was to be named Northern Ireland

9.
UEFA Euro 1988
–
The 1988 UEFA European Football Championship final tournament was held in West Germany between 10 and 25 June 1988. It was the eighth European Football Championship, which is every four years. The tournament crowned the Netherlands as European champions for the first, Euro 88 was a rare instance of a major football tournament ending without a single sending-off or goalless draw, nor any knockout matches going to extra time or penalties. The first group pitted two pre-tournament favourites West Germany and Italy together, along with Spain and Denmark, the Italians had not played in the competition finals since the 1980 edition, which they hosted and West Germany won. Spain and Denmark contested the second semi-final of the 1984 edition, Spain prevailed on penalty-kicks, but lost the final to hosts, France who failed to qualify in 1988. The Germans and Italians played out the opening game, roberto Mancini capitalised on a defensive error on the left-hand side of the German goal and the striker squeezed in a shot from a tight angle. Just three minutes later, Italys goalkeeper, Walter Zenga was penalized for taking more than four steps with the ball, both teams settled for a 1–1 draw. Spain defeated Denmark again, this time 3–2, míchel opened the scoring after five minutes and Michael Laudrup equalised twenty minutes later. Spain dominated the hour and Emilio Butragueño and Rafael Gordillo put the Spanish 3–1 to the good. A late surge saw Flemming Povlsen reduce the line, but was not enough for the Danes. In the remaining games the West Germans swept aside the Danes, Jürgen Klinsmann and Olaf Thon scored to dispatch the former 2–0 while two goals from Rudi Völler was enough to beat Spain 2–0. The second goal was particularly notable, the Italians won a difficult match against the Spanish 1–0, courtesy of a goal from Gianluca Vialli, a low cross-shot to the net on 73 minutes. In the last games, against an already eliminated Denmark, the Italians prevailed by two goals to nil, the second group witnessed a surprising set of results. In the opening game, one of the pre-tournament favourites England lost 0–1 to Ireland, ray Houghton scored a looping header after six minutes after the English defence failed to clear a cross. The English applied strong pressure as the game wore on, gary Lineker was unusually sluggish, missing a series of chances and hitting the cross bar. In the other opening game, the Soviet Union defeated the Netherlands 1–0 through a Vasyl Rats goal, England met the Netherlands in Düsseldorf, both needed to win. England started strongly with Lineker hitting a post and Glen Hoddle striking the post with a free-kick, the English defence, weakened by the absence of Terry Butcher, conceded the first of three goals to Marco van Basten on 44 minutes. Van Basten turned Butchers replacement Tony Adams and beat Peter Shilton – playing his 100th game for England – to give his side a 1–0 lead

10.
FIFA World Cup 1990
–
The 1990 FIFA World Cup was the 14th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 8 June to 8 July 1990 in Italy, teams representing 116 national football associations entered, and qualification began in April 1988. A total of 22 teams qualified from this process, along with host nation Italy, the tournament was won by West Germany, their third World Cup title. They beat Argentina 1–0 in the final, a rematch of the final four years earlier. Italy finished third, and England fourth, after both lost their semi-finals in penalty shootouts and this was the last tournament to feature a team from the divided Germany, with the country being reunified later in 1990. Costa Rica, Ireland and the UAE made their first appearances in the finals, the official match ball was the Adidas Etrusco Unico. The 1990 World Cup is widely regarded as one of the poorest World Cups and it generated an average 2.21 goals per game – a record low that still stands – and a then-record 16 red cards, including the first ever dismissal in a final. This World Cup saw the introduction of the pre-match Fair Play Flag to encourage fair play, negative tactics led to the introduction of the back-pass rule in 1992, and three points for a win instead of two at future World Cups. Nonetheless, the 1990 World Cup stands as one of the most watched events in television history and this was the first World Cup to be officially recorded and transmitted in HDTV by the Italian broadcaster RAI in association with Japans NHK. At the time it was the most watched World Cup in history in non-unique viewers, the vote to choose the hosts of the 1990 tournament was held on 19 May 1984 in Zürich, Switzerland. Here, the FIFA Executive Committee chose Italy ahead of the rival bid. This awarding made Italy only the nation to host two World Cup tournaments, after Mexico had also achieved this with their 1986 staging. Italy had previously had the event in 1934, where they had won their first championship, Austria, England, France, Greece, West Germany and Yugoslavia also submitted initial applications for 31 July 1983 deadline. A month later, only England, Greece, Italy and the Soviet Union remained in the hunt after the other contenders all withdrew, all four bids were assessed by FIFA in late 1983, with the final decision over-running into 1984 due to the volume of paperwork involved. In early 1984, England and Greece also withdrew, leading to a race in the final vote. 116 teams entered the 1990 World Cup, including Italy as host nation and Argentina as reigning World Cup champions, thus, the remaining 22 finals places were divided among the continental confederations, with 114 initially entering the qualification competition. Due to rejected entries and withdrawals,103 teams eventually participated in the qualifying stages, thirteen places were contested by UEFA teams, three by CONMEBOL teams, two by CAF teams, two by AFC teams, and two by CONCACAF teams. The remaining place was decided by a play-off between a CONMEBOL team and a team from the OFC, chile were also banned from the 1994 qualifiers for this offence

11.
Luke Kelly
–
Luke Kelly was an Irish singer, folk musician and actor from Dublin, Ireland. Born into a household in Dublin city, Kelly moved to England in his late teens. Returning to Dublin in the 1960s, he is noted as a member of the band The Dubliners. Becoming known for his singing style, and sometimes political messages. Luke Kelly was born into a family in Lattimore Cottages at 1 Sheriff Street. His grandmother, who was a MacDonald from Scotland, lived with the family until her death in 1953 and his father worked all his life in Jacobs biscuit factory and enjoyed playing football. Both Luke and his brother Paddy played club Gaelic football and soccer as children, Kelly left school at thirteen and after a number of years of odd-jobbing, he went to England in 1958. Working at steel fixing with his brother Paddy on a site in Wolverhampton. He worked odd jobs from oil barrel cleaning to vacuum salesman, the first folk club he came across was in the Bridge Hotel, Newcastle upon Tyne in early 1960. Having already acquired the use of a banjo, he started memorising songs, in Leeds he brought his banjo to sessions in McReadys pub. The folk revival was under way in England, at the centre of it was Ewan MacColl who scripted a radio programme called Ballads, a revival in the skiffle genre also injected a certain energy into folk singing at the time. On a trip home he went to a fleadh cheoil in Milltown Malbay on the advice of Johnny Moynihan and he listened to recordings of Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger. He also developed his political convictions which, as Ronnie Drew pointed out after his death, as Drew also pointed out, he learned to sing with perfect diction. Kelly befriended Sean Mulready in Birmingham and lived in his home for a period, Mulready was a teacher who was forced from his job in Dublin because of his communist beliefs. Mulready had strong music links, a sister, Kathleen Moynihan was a member of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, and he was related by marriage to Festy Conlon. Mulreadys brother-in-law, Ned Stapleton, taught Kelly The Rocky Road to Dublin, Kelly bought his first banjo, which had five strings and a long neck, and played it in the style of Pete Seeger and Tommy Makem. At the same time, Kelly began a habit of reading and he got involved in the Jug OPunch folk club run by Ian Campbell. He befriended Dominic Behan and they performed in clubs and Irish pubs from London to Glasgow

12.
Eamonn Campbell
–
Eamonn Campbell has been a member of The Dubliners since 1987. He was also in the Dubliners when they recorded their 25th anniversary show on The Late Late Show hosted by Gay Byrne and he is known as a guitarist and has a rough voice similar to the late Dubliner founding member Ronnie Drew. He is still touring with three other ex-Dubliners as The Dublin Legends, now that the name has been retired with the death of Barney McKenna. Eamonn is originally from Drogheda in County Louth, but now lives in Walkinstown and he is a regular drinker in famous Walkinstown Bar The Submarine. It was his suggestion that the Dubliners work with London Irish band The Pogues in the mid-1980s, thus giving them their biggest UK hit to date and an appearance on Top of the Pops. He has produced all of the Dubliners albums since 1987, as well as albums for many other Irish artists, including Foster and Allen, Brendan Shine, Daniel ODonnell and Paddy Reilly. He played locally with the Delta Boys, The Bee Vee Five and the Country Gents before joining Dermot OBrien, in 2002 Eamonn put a complaint to a Commission to Inquire into Sexual Abuse as he said he was abused by The Christian Brothers as a child. In an interview he said I felt emotional with hate at what this arsehole had got away with and he was abusing the whole class. I still havent heard anything back, Eamonn was the Grand Master for the 2009 Drogheda St Patricks Day Parade. In his younger years Eamonn taught guitar lessons at the Music Shop in Drogheda and his granddaughter Megan Campbell is a Republic of Ireland international

13.
Gerry O'Connor (banjo player)
–
Gerry OConnor is a traditional tenor banjo player. As Earl Hitchener said, Gerry OConnor can be considered at the moment the single best four string banjoist in the history of Irish Music and he also plays mandolin, fiddle, guitar and tenor guitar. OConnor released four albums and his third one, titled No Place Like Home was named by Irish Times as Number 1 Traditional/Folk album of the year in 2004. After the sudden death of banjo player Barney McKenna on 5 April 2012, he entered The Dubliners to complete the tour, until the final shows at Vicar Street in Dublin. Barney McKenna himself said, about Gerry OConnor, Hes my best pupil ever, together with Eamonn Campbell, Patsy Watchorn and Seán Cannon, Gerry OConnor plans to keep on touring in 2013 as The Dublin Legends. In addition to his performances and recordings, OConnor is a member of Four Men. More recently he has guested on Christy Moores new album Folk Tale from 2011, OConnor mainly plays CGDA tuned tenor banjo, instead of the usual Irish tuning GDAE. He plays a David Boyle banjo on almost every tour since 1996, Time To Time,1991 Myriad,1998 No Place Like Home,2004 High Up – Low Down,2009 Gerry OConnor official website Patsy Watchorn

14.
Irish language
–
Irish, also referred to as Gaelic or Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people. Irish enjoys constitutional status as the national and first official language of the Republic of Ireland and it is also among the official languages of the European Union. The public body Foras na Gaeilge is responsible for the promotion of the language throughout the island of Ireland and it has the oldest vernacular literature in Western Europe. The fate of the language was influenced by the power of the English state in Ireland. Elizabethan officials viewed the use of Irish unfavourably, as being a threat to all things English in Ireland and its decline began under English rule in the 17th century. In the latter part of the 19th century, there was a decrease in the number of speakers. Irish-speaking areas were hit especially hard, by the end of British rule, the language was spoken by less than 15% of the national population. Since then, Irish speakers have been in the minority, efforts have been made by the state, individuals and organisations to preserve, promote and revive the language, but with mixed results. Around the turn of the 21st century, estimates of native speakers ranged from 20,000 to 80,000 people. In the 2011 Census, these numbers had increased to 94,000 and 1.3 million, there are several thousand Irish speakers in Northern Ireland. It has been estimated that the active Irish-language scene probably comprises 5 to 10 per cent of Irelands population, there has been a significant increase in the number of urban Irish speakers, particularly in Dublin. In Gaeltacht areas, however, there has been a decline of the use of Irish. Údarás na Gaeltachta predicted that, by 2025, Irish will no longer be the language in any of the designated Gaeltacht areas. Survey data suggest that most Irish people think highly of Irish as a marker of identity. It has also argued that newer urban groups of Irish speakers are a disruptive force in this respect. In An Caighdeán Oifigiúil the name of the language is Gaeilge, before the spelling reform of 1948, this form was spelled Gaedhilge, originally this was the genitive of Gaedhealg, the form used in Classical Irish. Older spellings of this include Gaoidhealg in Classical Irish and Goídelc in Old Irish, the modern spelling results from the deletion of the silent dh in the middle of Gaedhilge, whereas Goidelic languages, used to refer to the language family including Irish, comes from Old Irish

15.
Ronnie Drew
–
Joseph Ronald Ronnie Drew was an Irish singer, folk musician and actor who achieved international fame during a fifty-year career recording with The Dubliners. He is most recognised for his vocals on the single Seven Drunken Nights. He was recognisable for his beard and his voice, which was once described by Nathan Joseph as being like the sound of coke being crushed under a door. Ronnie Drew was born in Dún Laoghaire, County Dublin in 1934, a quip that Andy Irvine relayed in his song ODonoghues. Drew was educated at CBS Eblana and used to mitch and cycle up to Leopardstown Racecourse, despite his aversion to education, he was considered the most intelligent in his class by schoolfriend and future Irish film censor, Sheamus Smith. Drew had also sung as a boy soprano before his voice broke, in the 1950s, Drew moved to Spain to teach English and learn Spanish and flamenco guitar. His interest in music began at the age of 19. In 1962, he founded the Ronnie Drew Group with Luke Kelly, Barney McKenna and they soon changed their name to The Dubliners—with John Sheahan joining shortly afterwards to form the definitive line-up—and quickly became one of the best known Irish folk groups. They played at first in ODonoghues Pub in Merrion Row, Dublin 2 where they were accompanied by Mary Jordan on the spoons and vocalist Ann Mulqueen. Mary Jordans mother, Peggy Jordan, introduced them to the Abbey Tavern in Howth and they also played across the road in the Royal Hotel, at all-night parties in Peggys large house in Kenilworth Square in Rathgar, and in John Molloys flat at Ely Place. He rejoined The Dubliners in 1979 and left for good in 1995 and he made several television appearances with the group between 2002–05. From 1995 onwards, Drew pursued a solo career and he recorded with many artists, including Christy Moore, The Pogues, Antonio Breschi, Dropkick Murphys, Eleanor Shanley and others. He did a number of one-man shows—he was accompanied by various guitarists—during this period, such as Songs and Stories, Ronnie, I Hardly Knew Ya and Ronnie. These shows consisted of stories about such as Brendan Behan, Patrick Kavanagh and Seán OCasey. He fronted a campaign to encourage the use of Dublins light-rail infrastructure and, before that and he narrated a retelling of the great Irish Myths and Legends—scripted by Steven Byrne—over a six CD set in 2006. He also narrated the stories of Oscar Wilde in his voice for a series released on CD by the News of the World newspaper. Both were re-released as CD box sets in 2010, on 22 August 2006, Drew was honoured in a ceremony where his hand prints were added to the Walk of Fame outside Dublins Gaiety Theatre. In September 2006, Drew was reported to be in ill-health after being admitted to St. Vincents Hospital, Dublin, the Evening Herald reported that his apparent illness was due to years of heavy drinking

16.
Barney McKenna
–
Bernard Noël Banjo Barney McKenna was an Irish musician and a founding member of The Dubliners. He played the banjo, violin, mandolin, and melodeon. He was most renowned as a banjo player, born in Donnycarney, Dublin, McKenna played the banjo from an early age, beginning because he could not afford to buy the instrument of his choice, a mandolin. He was a member of The Dubliners from 1962 and was the only living member of the formation at the time of his death. Prior to joining the Dubliners, he had spent a few months in The Chieftains, in addition to his work on traditional Irish music, he also played jazz on occasion. Barney remained a favourite with live audiences, and some of the loudest and most affectionate applause followed the tunes. He was well known for his renditions of songs such as South Australia. Another featured spot in Dubliners performances is the duet that Barney played with John Sheahan – again with Eamonn Campbell providing guitar accompaniment. As Barney often pointed out to the audience, Its an Irish duet, barneys tendency to relate funny, and often only marginally believable, stories was legendary amongst Dubliners fans and friends. Barney was a fisherman, and many of the songs he has recorded with The Dubliners have been shanties. McKenna died unexpectedly on the morning of 5 April 2012 after collapsing in the kitchen of his home in Howth and he was buried at St Lomans Cemetery in Trim, County Meath, on 9 April 2012. At first it was unclear whether The Dubliners would continue their 50th Anniversary Tour in the wake of McKennas death, however they soon confirmed that they would do their best to honour all the concert dates for the rest of the year. Http, //www. barneymckenna. net Obituary at the Daily Telegraph

17.
John Sheahan
–
John Sheahan is an Irish musician and composer and the last surviving member of the definitive five-member line-up of The Dubliners. He joined The Dubliners in 1964 and played with them until 2012 when The Dubliners name was retired following the death of founding member Barney McKenna, John Sheahan was born in Dublin on 19 May 1939. His father, a native of Glin, County Limerick, was a member of the Garda Síochána stationed in Dublin and he went to school to the local Christian Brothers in Marino, Dublin, where he received his first musical education, learning the tin whistle. This experience was shared with Paddy Moloney, who later founded The Chieftains, and Leon and Liam Rowsome, sons of the piper Leo Rowsome. When he was twelve years old he began to take an active interest in music. Enthusiastically supported and encouraged by his parents, he attended the Municipal School of Music in Dublin where he studied violin for more than five years. During this time he continued to maintain his interest in Irish traditional music and his interest in American bluegrass fiddle music must also have influenced his style, as can be heard in tunes like Flop Eared Mule, recorded with The Dubliners in 1968,1969 and 1983. Sheahan played with a number of bands around the country until he met The Dubliners in the early 1960s, at that time, the group was formed by Ronnie Drew, Barney McKenna, Ciarán Bourke and Luke Kelly. He joined the band in 1964, together with Bobby Lynch, both musicians had been playing during the interval at concerts and usually stayed on stage for the second half of the show. When Luke Kelly moved to England in 1964, Lynch was taken on as his temporary replacement and he is the only member of the Dubliners to have had a formal musical education. After 50 years of playing and after the death of founding member Barney McKenna, the last formation of the band featured Sheahan himself, Sean Cannon, Eamonn Campbell, Patsy Watchorn and Gerry OConnor. He was a member of the band for 48 years. In 2013 Sheahan went on tour with Jane and Shane in Denmark playing classical music and he also joined in some informal sessions in pubs in Dublin featuring other Irish musicians and Luke Kellys brother Jim Kelly. In April 2013 he had his own documentary on RTÉ about his life, in May he went into Dundalk Primary School to talk about his career with The Dubliners. In October 2013 Sheahan was on The Late Late Show on RTÉ with Paddy Moloney of The Chieftains and performed a reel together on the Tin Whistle. Sheahan said he was working on an album which would contain a collection of unrecorded compositions he had written over the past 50 years and was developing a book containing his poetry. He played at Templebar Tradfest in Dublin City Hall in January 2014, in April 2014, Sheahan was awarded two Irish Film and Television Awards for the television documentary John Sheahan - A Dubliner. On 10 April 2014 Sheahan was part of Ceiliúradh at which he and he sang a verse of the Auld Triangle and played the fiddle to accompany other musicians

18.
Jim McCann (musician)
–
James Jim McCann was an Irish entertainer and folk musician. As a young man, McCann attended University College Dublin as a student of medicine and he began to perform in folk clubs in the area, and, upon his return to Dublin, he joined a group called the Ludlow Trio in 1965. In the following year, the Ludlow Trio had a hit with their recording of Dominic Behan’s “The Sea Around Us”, which reached number one in the Irish charts. The Ludlow Trio broke up in the year, and McCann began a solo career, releasing an album, McCann. Amongst other pursuits, he spent the few years involving himself in theatrical productions. He released an album, McCanned, made a television special called Reflections of Jim McCann. It was on The McCann Man that he met fellow folk artist, during this appearance, Kelly did his only televised performance of the Phil Coulter song Scorn Not His Simplicity, a song that he chose to perform sparingly out of respect to the subject matter. McCann subsequently performed alongside Kelly in the original cast of Jesus Christ Superstar in 1973, in April 1974 Kelly asked McCann to join The Dubliners temporarily, to replace Ciarán Bourke during a period of illness. However, he became a permanent member soon afterwards, when Ronnie Drew left the group to pursue a solo career, McCann remained with The Dubliners until the end of 1979, during which he toured incessantly, also recording several albums with the group. He did rejoin The Dubliners in 2002 for their 40th anniversary tour and he continued to perform, tour, and record music as a solo artist, appearing on many television shows and achieving success with albums such as From Tara to Here and singles such as Grace. He rejoined the Dubliners in 2002 for their 40th anniversary album, although treatment for the illness was successful, the damage to his voice left him unable to sing. However, he collaborated with the Dubliners by taking the photographs for them, appearing as a compere in their concerts. During the Dubliners last concert in December 2012, he performed them as a guitarist. McCanns death was announced by his family on 5 March 2015 and he had been battling throat cancer for some time

19.
A Drop of the Hard Stuff
–
A Drop of the Hard Stuff is the debut studio album of the Irish folk group The Dubliners. It was originally released in 1967 on Major Minor Records, when it was reissued, it was renamed Seven Drunken Nights because the first track became a hit single. The album reached number 5 in the UK album chart, the album cover provides biographical sketches of the band line-up, Ronnie Drew, Luke Kelly, Barney McKenna, Ciarán Bourke and John Sheahan. Four of the songs are sympathetic to the IRA, but this was before The Troubles properly began in Ireland, most of the songs concern rogues and drinking. Weila Waile is a murder ballad, sung with a certain jollity. All songs traditional with the exception of The Travelling People which was written by English performer Ewan MacColl

20.
More of the Hard Stuff
–
More of the Hard Stuff is an album by The Dubliners, originally released in 1967. The line-up consists of Ronnie Drew, Luke Kelly, Barney McKenna, Ciarán Bourke, true to its title, five of the songs concern hard drinking. One of the songs was written by Brendan Behan, another by his brother Dominic, the album reached number 8 in the UK album charts in 1967, and stayed in the charts for 23 weeks

21.
Drinkin' and Courtin'
–
Drinkin and Courtin is an album by The Dubliners. It was originally released in 1968, the line-up consists of Ronnie Drew, Luke Kelly, Barney McKenna, Ciarán Bourke and John Sheahan. Five of the songs are comic and it reached number 31 in the UK album charts in 1968. McGrath Maid of the Sweet Brown Knowe My Little Son Spoken introduction mentions Ciarán Bourke

22.
At It Again
–
At It Again is an album by The Dubliners and was released on the Major Minor label in 1968. It featured The Irish Navy, a song with lyrics co-written by Ronnie Drew and Luke Kelly. Barney McKenna and Ciarán Bourke also feature on the album and it was re-released under the title Seven Deadly Sins. The order of the tracks varies in different re-releases, patrick I Wish I Were Back in Liverpool Darby OLeary Go to Sea No More

23.
Revolution (The Dubliners album)
–
Revolution is the title of the tenth album by The Dubliners. It was their second to be produced by Phil Coulter and this was a landmark in their career. Their sound had developed and Coulter, as well as playing piano on the record, had brought in other instrumentalists as well, alabama 58 The Captains and the Kings School Days Over Sé Fáth Mo Bhuartha Scorn Not His Simplicity For What Died the Sons of Róisín. Joe Hill Ojos Negros The Button Pusher The Bonny Boy The Battle of the Somme/Freedom Come-All-Ye Biddy Mulligan The Peat Bog Soldiers

24.
Double Dubliners
–
Double Dubliners is The Dubliners ninth studio album. It is also known as Alive and Well, the title it was released under on the Polydor label Its the Dubliners site for the album, a standout track here is a recitation by Ronnie Drew of Pádraig Pearses poem The Rebel. This album features the original members, other notable tracks here are The Sun Is Burning and The Night Visiting Song, both sung by Luke Kelly. In December 1983, The Night Visiting Song would become the song to be performed by Luke Kelly with The Dubliners on Irish television

25.
15 Years On
–
15 Years On is an album from the band The Dubliners. This album was created to celebrate the bands 15th anniversary from the day they started music together, the album was released on the CHYME label in 1977. The album features 24 tracks on two records, in spite of having only nine previously unreleased tracks, it is still regarded as an original album. The groups line-up consisted of Barney McKenna, Luke Kelly, John Sheahan, patsy Watchorn discography History and Discographies at theBalladeers

26.
Prodigal Sons
–
Prodigal Sons is an album by the Irish group The Dubliners. Produced by Bill Whelan, who became famous for Riverdance. The two Kelly recordings would first appear on the album, Lukes Legacy after his death. The album took its name from John Sheahans composition, The Prodigal Son, the album featured both contemporary and traditional songs as well as instrumental pieces

27.
The Dubliners (album)
–
The Dubliners is the eponymous debut live album by the Irish folk band The Dubliners. It was produced by Nathan Joseph and released by Transatlantic Records in 1964, the line-up consisted of Ronnie Drew, Barney McKenna, Luke Kelly and Ciarán Bourke. When Kelly died, the title was changed to The Dubliners with Luke Kelly by the record company to spur sales of the reissue. The tune labelled The High Reel is actually a medley of two different tunes, according to McKenna, the title of the first tune is Códháirdeachais and the title of the second tune is The Boyne Hunt

28.
In Concert (The Dubliners album)
–
In Concert is a live album by The Dubliners, released in 1965. By the time The Dubliners had recorded their second album live at the Cecil Sharp House in December 1964, luke Kelly had temporarily left the group and Bobby Lynch and John Sheahan had joined. This was to be Lynchs only recording with The Dubliners, as he left the group when Kelly returned, Sheahan has been with the group ever since and in latter years has become their manager

29.
Live at the Albert Hall (The Dubliners album)
–
Live at the Albert Hall is a live album by The Dubliners. It was their last recording for the Major Minor label, recorded in 1968 and released in 1969, it contained live versions of some of their recent hits as well as a version of Whiskey on a Sunday, which had been a big hit for Danny Doyle. The rebel ballad Off to Dublin in the Green was issued on early pressings of the album, the album features the original band members. In November 2006, a version was released by EMI as a third disc as part of The Dubliners Platinum Collection